Device for securing incandescent-lamp filaments to leading-in wires.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1904. A. W. W. ,MILLER & G. P. MODONNELL. DEVICE PGB. `SEGURING INGANDESCENT LAMP PILAMENTS T0 LEADING-IN WIRES. APPLI T101. r1 3 1 o3 11o MODEL. CA LED JULY 9 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 758,328. PATNTED PR.'26, 1904.

A. W. W. MILLER & G. P. MGDONNELL. DEVICE FOR SEGURING INGANDESCENT LAMP FILAMENTS T0A LEADING-IN WIRES. .u Io T a` 1 o A 1m mmm.. PL A ION FILED mL-Y s 3- v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' UNITED STATES Patented April 2e, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT W. MILLER, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND GEORGE P. MGDONNELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OE NEE JERSEY.

DEVICE FR SECURING INCANDESCENT-LAMP FlLAMENIS TO LEADING-IN WIRES. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7548,328, dated April 26, 1904. Application filed July 3, 1903. Serial No. 164,116. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT W. W. MIL# LER, residing at South Orange, New Jersey, and GEORGE P. McDoNNELL, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, citizens of the United States, have' jointly invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Securing Incandescent-Lamp Filaments to Leading-In Wires, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part,

of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, illustrating' our improved device. Fig. 2 is a verticalk sectional view.l Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of a pair of cooperating clamps. Eig. t is a Vside elevational view of the same, and Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the same.

This invention relates to'l new and useful improvements in devices for securing incandescent-lamp lilaments to the leading-in Wires, the object being to mount the filament and leading-in wires in such fixed relation to each other that the end portions thereof may be secured or connected together, the parts being iirmly held in fixed position until the permanent connection thereof.

The device consists of a traveling carrier having mounted thereon vise-clamps, preferably in the form of spring-jaws, in which the parts to be connected are held. The operator adjusts the ends of the wires to be connected and after applying thereto a suitable paste moves the traveling carrier onward, giving the paste time to harden, during which hardening process the wires are in contact with each other and bear av fixed relation to each other. The vise-clamps referred to are in pairs, one clamp of each pair being preferably in vertical alinement with its companion. One clamp is designed to hold the carbon {ilament, and its companion is designed to hold the leading-in wires. One or both clamps is preferably universally adjustable, means being provided for holding and locking these parts in their adjusted positions.

Heretofore in the practice of mounting carbon tilaments upon leading-in wires the glass stem containing the leading-in wires has usually been held in position upon a supportingbase, upon which base the iilaments are placed, after which the operator secured one of the ends of said filament-to a leading-in wire, permitted the paste to dry while the parts rested on the base, and then brought the other end of the lament into contact with the other leading-in Wire and pasted the two together. No means was provided to positively hold the filament andV glass stem, with its leading-in Wire-s, in iiXed positions with relation to each other during this period.

Because of the substantially horizontal position of the parts referred to the paste used to connect the filament with the leading-in wires very frequently entered and' remained between the wires and 'lament, whereby close contact of such parts and perfect joints thereof was sometimes impossible because of the fact that the paste used is a somewhat imperfeet conductor. Considerable dexterity on the part of the operator to thus manipulate the parts was required, and great care had to be exercised to avoid breakage of the connection before the paste became hard.

By our improved machine the filament and leading-in wires are adjusted and mechanically held in proper relation to each other and the operator applies the paste,k in this way having one hand free to move the carrier to advance thedrum and bring another'ilainent into po sition to be connected.

The carrier which we prefer to use `is circular in form and rotates about an axis, so that as the filaments to be connected are advanced step by step the time consumed in 'making the circuit will enable the paste or connecting medium to become sufficiently hard, and the operator may then complete the operation of mounting the filament.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as hereinafter described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the traveling carrier, shown in this instance as a hollow drum-like structure rotatably mounted on a spindle 2. It is obvious that our improved clamping devices could be otherwise mounted and operate as Well as when mounted on the drum 1. In fact, while the drum is intended to be individual to one operator it will beunderstood that by the use of a belt or other traveling conveyer for the clamping devices a greater number of said clamping devices could be mounted thereon, so that two or more operators could work at the same machine-for instance, one operator inserting the pieces to be connected, another operator pasting the first joint, a third operator pasting the second joint, the fourth operator removing the finished pieces, Sac., the operators being spaced sufficiently far apart to permit the paste to harden. For these reasons we do not wish to be understood as limiting our invention to a rotatable drum, except where such limitations may be expressed in the claims.

3 indicates a friction device, preferably in the form of a spring-pressed pivoted plate, which engages the drum and serves to hold the same stationary when desired.

The filament-clamp preferably consists of a fixed jaw-1 upon its support, to which is pivotally connected the jaw 5, said jaw 5 having an extension whereby it may be readily opened, the jaw 5 being closed by the action of a spring 6. Jaws L1 and 5 are preferably elongated, so that the operator may in clamping one leg of a filament therebetween select any point within the range of the jaws at which to hold the leg of the filament. In this vmanner the leg of the filament to be secured in position is adjustably clamped between the jaws at any point selected by the operator within the range of said jaws.

The clamping device for the leading -in wires comprises the following:

8 indicates an apertured lug secured to the support, with which cooperates an apertured lug 9, carrying an .eye 10 at its outer end. A bolt 11 passes through the apertures of the lugs 8 and 9, said bolt being ,of smaller diameter than said apertures, permitting considerable play horizontally of the lug 9 with relation to the supporting-lug' 8. Washers 12 are strung on th'e bolt and a spring 13 is arranged between the head of the bolt and one of said washers, so as to exert friction on the parts to hold the lug 9 in proper position not only to support the weight carried in the eye l0, but also to frictionally hold the lug 9 'in adjusted positions. By adjusting the nut 14 on the end of the bolt the pressure of the spring may be regulated.

in the eye 10 and preferably locked in its vertically-adjusted positions by a set-sew 16. On the upper end of this standard 15 is a clamping-jaw 17, the socket in which may be semicircular or angular, said clamping-jaw being' held in position by binding-screws 18 and being provided with lugs 19, between which is mounted the movable companion clampingjaw 20, whose socket may likewise be semicircular or angular. A handle 21 extends from the movable jaw 20, and a spring 22 is employed to force the jaw 20 inwardly toward its companion. rIhis spring is shown as a torsion-spring coiled about the pivot-bolt of the movable jaw and having its free ends located under the binding-screws 18.

Because of the play between the lugs 8 and 9 the standard 15, mounted in said eye 10 on the lug 9, is free to move throughout a wide range practically in all directions to provide for any movement thereof necessary to bring the leading-in wires into contact with the legs of the filament. The dotted lines in Fig. 4 show said standard 15 with the clamping-jaws obliquely disposed with relation to the drum or belt 1 of that figure, and it will be apparent that glass tubes of various lengths maybe provided for by the vertical adjustment of standard 15 in eye 10.

The leading-in wires 23 are usually platinum and copper fused together, they being mounted in the closed end of a hollow glass holder whose other or outer end is flared or flanged, so as to be fused to the neck of the incandescent globe in a well-known manner. An anchorwire 25 is also shown, which anchor-wire may be connected with or pasted to the loop of the filament while the several parts are held in the device herewith shown, if desired.

In operation the standard 15is adjusted vertically to the proper position to accommodate the particular size of holders carrying the leading-in wires to which the filaments are to be connected. The glass holders are inserted between the clamping-jaws 17 and 20, with they leading-in wires uppermost, after which one leg of the carbon filament is introducedto the contacting ends, and the traveling con-` veyer or drum, as the case may be, is advanced, so as to locate another set of clamping devices in front of the operator. vrIhis connection of one leg of the filament to one of the leading-in wires is continued in the in- 15 indicates a standard adjustably mounted stance of the clamping devices being mounted IOC IIO

before-mentioned openings 29. The operatoryliability to breakage of' the joint is in' this manner reduced to a minimum in further manipulation of the filament. The operator now releases'the jaws 4L and 5 and rotates the glass holder so as to carry the connected ends of the filaments out 'of its former position, after which the freel end of the iila= ment is introduced between the jaws 4 and 5, so as to overlap slightly the other leadingin wire, and the'operations before mentioned are repeated.- It may be in the pasting of clamped end of the filament and the remain- -ingleading-in wire; but if this will not effect proper engagement between the parts the lower clam ping-jaw and its carried glass holder can be bodily adjusted, as before described.

Both handles of the movable jaws' 5 and'20 are preferably so located and disposed ythat it is not necessary to grasp them between the fingers for the purpose of opening the jaws.

The operator may exert this pressure by any i convenient part of the hand to effect opening of the jaws, and thus leave the fingers and thumb free to manipulate a filament or the' glass holder in their respective clamps.

By the term"`leadingin wires in the` following claims we wish to be understood asincluding leading-in wires par 'se or, broadly,

wires ofany material mountedin glass hold* ers, such as shown, or other supports, and by the term spring-pressed jaws 'We wish to be understood as including two pivoted jaws cooperating with each other or one pivoted and `onestationary or fixed jaw.

Ie preferably'provid'e means whereby heat is supplied at the point at which the filament is pasted to the leading-in wires in order that the paste can be rapidly dried. In the pres- 'ent embodiment ot the invention the spindle 2 is supported in a stationary tting 26 upon the end of a 'gas-pipe '27, which enters the rotatable drumor carrier 1*,and burner-tubesv -28 1n communication with said gas-pipe project from saidlitting; rIhe peripheral wall of the drum is provided with suitable openings 29 in such position that they direct heated air yfrom the drum to the paste upon the laments A stationary housingI and leading-in wires. 30 extends almost entirely about the periphery of the drum l, and the filament-clamps and the clamps for the leading-in wires move in this housing,- the heated ain from thev burnertubes 28 entering said housing through the stands opposite the portion of the drum across which the housing does not extend, so that access can be readily4 had to the clamps upon.

the drum as the drum'revolves. No burnertube projects toward the portion of the periphery of the drum about which the housing does not extend, and a defector-plate 3l pret'- e'rably'extends acrossthis portion of the drum, on the interior.l thereof, in order to prevent the heated air from inconveniencing the op- It is obvious that the housing 30 may beconnected with any" suitable source of heat and the heat `fordrying be supplied from an exterior source, in which case the burner-tubes 28 will not'be required.

We are aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and' combination of the several parts of yourv device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without inthe least departing from the nature and principle'of our invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to 'be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a ldevice for securing incandescent- 4lamp filaments to'leading-in wires, the combination vwith a movable carrier, of relatively adjustable clamping devices mounted thereon for holding the filament and leading-in wires in` position while they are being connected;

3. In adevice forsecuring.incandescentfy lamp filaments to leadingin wires, the combination with a .travelingcarrier, of. means for holding the barbon-il'arnent' and leading-in wires in position while they are being connected, said'means comprising independent relatively' adjustable clamps; substantially as described.

:4. Ina-devicefory securing incandescentlampllaments to leading-in wires, the combi- .nation with a rotatable carrier, of pairs of independent relatively adjustable y clampingjaws secured thereto for holdingl the carbon lament and leading-in wires in position .while they are .being connected; substantially as described. f f Y 5. In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with 'a support, of clamping devices for holding the filament andthe leading-in wires in position while they are,y being connected, one-of said clamping devices being transversely adjustable with relation to the axes of the leading-in wire; substantially as described.

6. In a device for securing incandescentlamp Vfilaments to `leading-in wires, the combilIO clamping devices for holding the filament and the leading-in wires in position while they are being connected, one of said clamping devices being horizontally adjustable with relation to the other; substantially as described.

7 In a device for securing incandescent- Vlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a support, of a pair of verticallyalined clamping devices, each of said devices being independently operable, and one of said devices being adjustable with respect to the other of said devices; substantially as described. j

8.V In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a support, of a spring-actuated clamping device for the filament, a springactuated clamping device for the leading-inv wires, means for adjusting the latter device vertically and locking it in such position, and frictional devices for holding said device in laterally-adjusted position; substantially as described;

9. In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a support, of elongated springpressed clamping-jaws for holding the filament in position at any point within the range of said jaws, a companion clamping device', and means for laterally adjustingsaid clamping device for holding the leading-in wires in laterally-adjusted positions with respect to the clamping-jaws; substantially as described.

10. In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a support, of a clamp for the filament and a clamp for the stem carrying the leading-inwires, said latter clamp comprising spring-pressed jaws mounted upon a vertically-adjustable standard, andr frictionall means for holding said standard in laterallyadjusted positions; substantially as described.

11. In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a support, of an apertured lug arranged thereon; an apertured companion lug, means for creating friction between said two lugs whereby the latter lug may beheld in laterally-adjusted positions, an eye carried by said last-mentioned lug, a standard vertically adjustable in said eye, and spring-pressed jaws carried upon the upper end of the standard; substantially as described.

12. In a device for securing. incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in' wires, the combination with a movable carrier, of relatively adjustable clamping devices mounted thereonl for holding the filament and leading-in wires in position while they are being connected, and a shell forming aclosed heating-chamber into which .the clamping devices and their carried parts are received; substantially as described.

y, 13. In a device for securing incandescentleading-in wires; substantially as described.

14. In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a hollow rotatable carrier, a burner located therein, having escape-openings leading therefrom, a shell partially inclosing the carrier and forming a heating-chamber, and clamping devices on the carrier adapted to be moved into and out of' the heating-chamber when the carrier is rotated; substantially as described. l

15. In a device for securing' incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a rotatable hollow drum, of a stationary shell partially inclosing the same and forming a heating-chamber, burners within the drum, which drum is provided with escapeopenings for the products of' combustion, a-

defiector-plate in the drum for preventing escape'of products of combustion through the openings opposite the portion not included within the heating-chamber, and clamping devices on the rotatable drum for holding the filament and leading-in wires in position while they are being connected; substantially as described.

16.A In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a rotatable circular drum formed hollow and having burners located therein, of' a stationary encircling shell forming a heating-chamber open at one side to expose the clamping devices carried by the drum, and clamping devices on the drum for holding the filament and leading-in wires in position while they are being connected, said clamping devices being designed to travel through the heating-chamber; substantially as described.

17.` In a device for securing incandescentlamp filaments to leading-in wires, the combination with a pipe having burners extending from its upper end, a spindle projecting upwardly from the pipea hollow drum rotatably mounted on said spindle, a deiector-plate carried by the pipe, a stationary shell partially inclosing the periphery of the drum, and clamping devices mounted on the periphery of said drum; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aiX our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of June, 1903.

ALBERT W. W. MILLER. GEORGE I. MCDONNELL.

Witnesses:

GEORGE BAKEwELL,

FREDERICK H. GrBBs.

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